Aviator&#39;s respiration conditioning apparatus



July 24, 1956 M. J. MARTY 2,755,799

AVIATOR'S RESPIRATION CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1953 AVIATORS RESPIRATION CONDITIONING APPARATUS Maurice Jules Marty, Paris, France Application May 21, 1953, Serial No. 356,372 Claims priority, application France June 19, 1952 7 Claims. (Cl. 128142) The higher and higher altitudes at which present day aeroplanes fly, the continual increase in their speed and their radius of operation give rise to complicated problems relating to the aviators respiration.

From the biological point of view, it is established that starting from an altitude of from 3,000 to maximum 4,000 meters, it is necessary to compensate for the rarefaction of the air by inhalation of additional oxygen.

This inhalation of additional oxygen is made possible by providing the aviator with a respiratory mask connected through piping with an oxygen distributing apparatus comprising a membrane subjected to suction at each inhalation of the user. The displacement of this membrane controls at each inhalation a pure oxygen supply discharged by a releaser which brings to a constant low pressure (approximately 4 kgs./cm. the pressure in the oxygen bottle which when full is generally 150 kgs./cm.

In practice, this method has hitherto given very good results but it has proved to be insuflicient when it is necessary to exceed an altitude of 12,000 meters.

In this case, it is necessary to send into the mask pure oxygen at an overpressure that may reach approximately 40 cm. of H20 for an altitude of 15,000 meters.

To obtain this result, it has been proposed to force progressively the oxygen supply, as the altitude increases, either manually, as by causing an appropriate spring to act upon the membrane, or automatically, as by the action of a barometric capsule or bellows the expansion, of which is a function of the atmospheric pressure drops, combined with a system of levers, assures a progressive pressure against the membrane, resulting in an overpressure in the respiratory mask. It is clear that this respiratory mask must be perfectly tight and provided with a compensation valve to accommodate the necessary overpressure without substantial leakage.

The manual control systems work well but their manipulation requires additional attention by the aviator.

The automatic control systems hitherto employed have the inconvenience of calling for barometric capsules of large dimensions in order to exert in the membrane center a thrust equivalent at least to the inner pressure in the mask, which thrust in the case of an inner pressure of 40 cm. water head must be from 2 to 3 kgs. depending upon the surface of the membrane. Furthermore, the application of this thrust solely against the membrane center considerably fatigues this part of the apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for automatically controlling the respiration of an aviator through the intermediary of his respiratory mask which is connected thereto, which apparatus is free from the above-noted inconveniences and in which the whole surface of its membrane is subjected to an auxiliary gaseous pressure automatically adjusted as a function of the altitude by means of a tiny barometric capsule acting solely as a servomotor.

To this end, the membrane face on the side opposed to the mask is confined in an enclosure defining a narrow space containing an oxygen inlet and a tiny escape valve nited States Patent 2,755,799 Patented July 24, 1956 apparatus adapted to be connected at 2 with the aviators respiratory mask, not shown.

This apparatus is divided by the elastic membrane 3 into two compartments one of which communicates with the mask and the other with the outside. The first named compartment comprises the various parts, already known, by means of which oxygen expanded to 4.kgs. and flowing in through the conduit 4 passes into the mask at a variable rate of flow through the valve 5 controlled by the membrane 3.

The second named compartment comprises in proximity to the membrane 3 an oxygen inlet 6, adjustable in a predetermined way by the needle-valve 7, and a partition 8 provided with an orifice 20 against which may be engaged by an escape valve 9 carried by a leaf spring 10 having one end secured at 11 to the apparatus casing 1.

The oxygen entering through the inlet 6 flows between the membrane 3 and the portion 8, escapes through the orifice '20 and flows out into the atmosphere, through the outlet 12 formed in the apparatus casing 1.

In proximity to, and parallel with, the leaf 10 there is disposed at second leaf spring '13 having one end also secured at 11 to the apparatus casing '1.

This leaf spring 13 is provided, at certain distances from its fixation point 11, with an auxiliary adjustable key 14 the role of which will be explained later, and with an open concave seat 15 in vertical alignment with the center of the escape valve 9 Theleaf 13 has its free end extended from the seat 15 for a purpose that will also be explained later.

In alignment with the seat 15 and the escape valve 9 there is positioned a small barometric capsule or bellows 16, secured at 17 to the apparatus casing 1. While expanding, this capsule acts upon the seat 15 and causes the leaf spring 13 to deflect.

The second named compartment further comprises two abutments 18, 19 supported on the partition 8 and adjustable lengthwise as shown, while the abutment 19, intended to limit the deflections of the leaf 13 by contacting the free extension of the latter, has its position adjustable in the directions of the arrows 19a and 19b, normally parallel to the leaf 13. i

The dimensions of the various parts contained in the second compartment,as Well as the distances separating these parts at rest, are calculated and adjusted in a predetermined way so as to allow the apparatus to operate as follows:

On the ground or at low altitudes, after appropriate adjustment of the needle-valve 7, limiting the oxygen inflow through the inlet 6, to a very low maximum of the order of from 2 to 4 litres per hour, the membrane 3 acts upon the valve 5 at each inhalation of the aviator. Starting from an altitude determined by the Biological Services (for example 4,000 meters) it is expedient to increase slightly the pressure of the gaseous mixture (air-I-oxygen) in the mask; this is "the first operational phase.

This result is obtained by the expansion of the barometric capsule 16 which, owning to its contact with the seat 15, deflects the leaf spring 13. When the auxiliary key 14 comes into contact with the leaf spring 10, the latter becomes'deflected in its turn and applies the valve 9 against the orifice 20. This'application is elastic and non-rigid, so that the escape of oxygen inflowing through the inlet 6 is merely restricted, but this restriction increases as the expansion of the capsule 16 and the pressure of auxiliary oxygen flowing from 6 to rises proceases increasing; this is the second operational phase.

The leaf 13 alone keeps on being deflected, with respect to the auxiliary key 14 and not with respect to the support 11, until its extension comes into contact with the abutment 19. The leaf 13 then ceases being deflected but becomes incurved between the points 14 and 1?, thereby modifying the nature of its elastic resistance to the expansion of the capsule 16.

Finally, the seat 15 comes into contact with the valve 9 (third operational phase); the restriction of oxygen escape continues to increase and the pressure of auxiliary oxygen rises again but much more rapidly than during the first phase hereinbefore described.

Furthermore, the incurvation of the leaf 13 may be increased or decreased by adjusting the position of the abutment 19 in the directions of the arrows 19a and 19b.

This modification in the incurvation permits of accommodating the speed of the second increase in pressure of the auxiliary oxygen to a predetermined function of the altitude.

Additionally, the other operational functions of the auxiliary key 14 and the two abutments 18, 19 permit of regulating in a predetermined manner the beginning and the end of each of the phases.

Finally, the controlsystem designed according to the present invention is characterized by very small dimensions and weights of the component parts, so that the said second named compartment is only a few centimeters thick and very light in weight.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for automatically feeding an aviators respiratory mask with oxygen during changing altitudes which comprises, in combination, a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across said casing and dividing it into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber including means for communicating with the respiratory mask, an oxygen supply valve means having its outlet in said first chamber and adapted to be connected with a supply of oxygen and means connecting said diaphragm with said inlet means for controlling the admission of oxygen to said first chamber in response to movements of said diaphragm, a partition extending across said casing in said second chamber and defining a secondary chamber between said partition and said diaphragm, a variable inlet means for introducing oxygen into said secondary chamb'en said inlet means being adapted to be connected to said supply of oxygen, said partition being formed with an outlet aperture, a valve member positioned to be moved toward and away from said outlet aperture to control the flow through said aperture, said casing being provided with an escape opening in said second chamber whereby oxygen flowing through said outlet aperture escapes from the second chamber through said escape opening, a resilient deflective means positioned to act upon said valve member to cause said member to control the flow of oxygen through said outlet aperture, a barometric bellows positioned in said second chamber to act upon said deflective means, and means for limiting the deflections of said resilient defiective means under the influence of said barometric bellows.

2. An apparatus for automatically feeding an aviators respiratory mask with oxygen during changing altitudes which comprises, in combination, a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across said casing and dividing it into a first chamber and chamber including means for communicating with the respiratory mask, an oxygen supply valve means having its outlet in said first chamber and adapted to be connected with a supply of oxygen and means connecting said diaphragm with said inlet means for controlling the admission of oxygen to said first chamber in response to movements of said diaphragm, a partition extending across said casing in said second chamber and defining a secondary chamber between said partition and said diaphragm, a variable inlet means for introducing oxygen into said secondary chamber, said inlet means being adapted to be connected to said supply of oxygen, said partition being formed with an outlet aperture, a valve member positioned to be moved toward and away from said outlet aperture to control the flow through said aperture, said casing being provided with an escape opening in said second chamber whereby oxygen flowing through said outlet aperture escapes from the second chamber through said escape opening, a resilient deflective means comprising a pair of leaf springs of unequal length secured to said casing and positioned to act upon said valve member to cause said member to control the flow of oxygen through said outlet aperture, said springs being spaced different distances from said valve member, a barometric bellows positioned in said second chamber to act upon said deflective means, and means for limiting the deflections of said resilient deflective means under the influence of said barometric bellows.

3. An apparatus for automatically feeding an aviators respiratory mask with oxygen-during changing altitudes which comprises, in combination, a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across said casing and dividing it into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber including means for communicating with the respiratory mask, an oxygen supply valve means having its outlet in said first chamber and adapted to be connected with a supply of oxygen and means connecting said diaphragms with said inlet means for controlling the admission of oxygen to, said first chamber inresponse to movements of said diaphragm, a partition extending across said casing in said second chamber and defining a secondary chamber between said partition and said diaphragm, a variable inlet means for introducing oxygen into said secondary chamber, said inlet means being adapted to be connected to said supply of oxygen, said partition being formed with an outlet aperture, 21 valve member positioned to be moved toward and away from said outlet aperture to control the flow through said aperture, said casing being provided with an escape opening in said second chamber whereby oxygen flowing through said outlet aperture escapes from the second chamber through said escape opening, a resilient deflective meanscomprising a pair of leaf springs of unequal length secured to said casing and positioned to act upon said valve member to cause said member to control the flow of oxygen through said outlet aperture, said springs being spaced different distances from said valve member, a barometric bellows positioned in said second chamber in alignment .with said valve means with one end secured to said casing and the other end positioned to act upon said deflective means, and means for I limiting the deflections of said resilient deflective means under the influence of said barometric bellows.

4. An apparatus for automatically feeding an aviators respiratory mask with oxygen during changing altitudes which comprises, in combination, a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across said casing and dividing it into afirst chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber including means for communicating with the respiratory mask, an oxygen supply valve means having its outlet in said first chamber and adapted to be connected with a supply of oxygen and means connecting said diaphragm with said inlet means for controlling the admission of oxygen to said first chamber in response to movements of said diaphragm, a partition extending across a second chamber, said first said casing in said second chamber and defining a secondary chamber between said partition and said diaphragm, a variable inlet means for introducing oxygen into said secondary chamber, said inlet means being adapted to be connected to said supply of oxygen, said partition being formed with an outlet aperture, 21 valve member positioned to be moved toward and away from said outlet aperture to control the flow through said aperture, said casing being provided with an escape opening in said second chamber whereby oxygen flowing through said outlet aperture escapes from the second chamber through said escape opening, a resilient defiective means comprising a pair of leaf springs of unequal length secured to said casing and positioned to act upon said valve member to cause said member to control the flow of oxygen through said outlet aperture, said springs being spaced different distances from said valve member, a barometric bellows positioned in said second chamber to act upon said defiective means, and means for limiting the deflections of said resilient defiective means under the influence of said barometric bellows, said limiting means comprising abutments disposed on each of said bellows and said valve member in position to be engaged by said leaf springs when they are deflected under the action of said bellows.

5. An apparatus for automatically feeding an aviators respiratory mask with oxygen during changing altitudes which comprises, in combination, a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across said casing and dividing it into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber including means for communicating with the respiratory mask, an oxygen supply valve means having its outlet in said first chamber and adapted to be connected with a supply of oxygen and means connecting said diaphragm with said inlet means for controlling the admission of oxygen to said first chamber in response to movements of said diaphragm, a partition extending across said casing in said second chamber and defining a secondary chamber between said partition and said diaphragm, a variable inlet means for introducing oxygen into said secondary chamber, said inlet means being adapted to be connected to said supply of oxygen, said partition being formed with an outlet aperture, a valve member positioned to be moved toward and away from said outlet aperture to control the flow through said aperture, said casing being provided with an escape opening in said second chamber whereby oxygen flowing through said outlet aperture escapes from the second chamber through said escape opening, a resilient defiective means comprising a pair of leaf springs of unequal length secured to said casing and positioned to act upon said valve member to cause said member to control the flow of oxygen through said outlet aperture, said springs being spaced different distances from said valve member, a barometric bellows positioned in said second chamber to act upon said defiective means, and means for limiting the deflections of said resilient defiective means under the influence of said barometric bellows, said limiting means comprising abutments disposed on each of said bellows and said valve member in position to be engaged by said leaf springs when they are deflected under the action of said bellows, said abutments being adjustable for varying the point of engagement with said leaf springs.

6. An apparatus for automatically feeding an aviators respiratory mask with oxygen during changing altitudes which comprises, in combination, a casing, an elastic diaphragm extending across said casing and dividing it into a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber including a fitting for communicating with the respiratory mask, an oxygen supply valve means in said first chamber and adapted to be connected with a supply of oxygen and means in said first chamber for connecting said diaphragm with said inlet means for controlling the admission of oxygen to said first chamber in response to movements of said diaphragm, a partition extending across said casing in said second chamber and defining a secondary chamber between said partition and said diaphragm, a variable inlet means for introducing oxygen into said secondary chamber, said inlet means being adapted to be connected to said supply of oxygen, said partition being formed with an outlet aperture, a valve member positioned to be moved toward and away from said outlet aperture to control the flow through said aperture, said casing being provided with an escape opening in said second chamber whereby oxygen flowing through said outlet aperture escapes from the second chamber through said escape opening, a resilient defiective means comprising a pair of leaf springs of unequal length secured to said casing and positioned to act upon said valve member to cause said member to control the flow of oxygen through said outlet aperture, said springs being spaced different distances from said valve member, a barometric bellows positioned in said second chamber to act upon said defiective means, and means for limiting the deflections of said resilient defiective means under the influence of said barometric bellows.

7. An apparatus for automatically feeding an aviators respiratory mask with oxygen during changing altitudes which comprises, in combination, a first casing having an elastic diaphragm extending across one side of said casing, said first casing defining a first chamber, a second casing connected With said first casing and defining a second chamber, said first chamber including means for communicating with the respiratory mask, an oxygen supply valve means having its outlet in said first chamber and adapted to be connected with a supply of oxygen and means connecting said diaphragm with said inlet means for controlling the admission of oxygen to said first chamber in response to movements of said diaphragm, a partition extending across said second casing and defining in said second casing a secondary chamber between said partition and said diaphragm, a variable inlet means for introducing oxygen into said secondary chamber, said inlet means being adapted to be connected to said supply of oxygen, said partition being formed with an outlet aperture, a valve member positioned to be moved toward and away from said outlet aperture to control the flow through said aperture, said second casing being provided with an escape opening whereby oxygen flowing through said outlet aperture escapes from the second chamber through said escape opening, a resilient defiective means positioned to act upon said valve member to cause said member to control the flow of oxygen through said outlet aperture, a barometric bellows positioned in said second chamber to act upon said defiective means, and means for limiting the deflections of said resilient defiective means under the influence of said barometric bellows, said last-named means comprising adjustable elements disposed on both sides of said bellows and said valve member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,608,200 Stockman Aug 26, 1952 

